Rob Pelinka says JJ Redick was already drawing up actions after drafting his player version in Dalton Knecht

The Lakers have just selected Dalton Knecht with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and new LA coach JJ Redick is already drawing up plays for the rookie, according to Rob Pelinka.

Speaking to reporters after the Lakers made their pick, Pelinka said Redick had already started planning how to integrate the sweet-shooting rookie into their rotation and offensive schemes.

Pelinka said:

"I was joking with Coach Redick upstairs that, you know, we found a movement shooter to match his skills as a player, and he already had his whiteboard out drawing up pindowns and ATOs and actions where he could run a movement shooter off screens.”

“So, I think his mind is already working on drawing up plays for Dalton. Just really, really excited.”

Dalton Knecht, at 23 years old, brings a wealth of experience with five years in college, making him a seasoned addition to the win-now Lakers.

His skill set perfectly matches the team's needs. Knecht is a dynamic scorer and a proficient 3-point shooter. At 6-foot-5, he resembles a taller version of Redick, who was a knockdown shooter throughout his 15-year career with a 3-point percentage of 41.5%.

Knecht excels in shooting and can create space off the dribble.

In college, he averaged 21.7 points per game and shot 39.7% from beyond the arc on 6.5 attempts per game.

During the 2023-24 season, he had several standout performances, including eight games with at least 30 points and a 40-point game against Kentucky in March, where he made six three-pointers.

Rob Pelinka says the Lakers view Dalton Knecht as a top 10 player in the 2024 NBA Draft

Rob Pelinka said the Lakers were surprised Dalton Knecht was still available at the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, as they considered him a top 10 player.

“We would have never imagined a player as skilled and sort of perfect for our needs would be there for us, as is Dalton Knecht. We had him, you know, as a top 10 player unanimously across our scouting boards,” Pelinka said.

Pelinka said he had scouted Knecht extensively.

“I was at the SEC tournament scouting him extensively, and my mind was like, ‘There's no way a player like this could be available for us to pick on draft night.’ So, across the board, just couldn't be happier,” he said.

Knecht will bolster the Lakers' 3-point shooting. Last season, the Lakers shot 37.7% from deep.

Their top 3-point shooters with at least three attempts per game were Rui Hachimura (42.2%), D'Angelo Russell (41.5%), LeBron James (41%), Taurean Prince (39.6%) and Spencer Dinwiddie (38.9%).